PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ken Masters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Byant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Masters
vs
Byant

176 cm
22
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Attliction Inc. - badass sold out last night....

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ken Masters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Byant!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byant avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Byant takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like James Byant has been cut.
Masters wants to clinch up but Byant keeps it at a distance.
Masters really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Byant stuffs the takedown.
Masters looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Byant is fending him off so far but Masters persists. Nope, Byant circles away and we're back to standing.
Masters tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Byant circles away from the clinch attempt.
Masters shoots for a takedown but Byant saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masters throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Good leg kick by Masters there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Masters shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters tries to close the distance and clinch but Byant swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Masters misses with a head kick.
Masters misses with a takedown attempt - Byant sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Masters tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Byant swivels and escapes.
Masters is looking to clinch.
Masters tries to close the distance and clinch but Byant swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Masters shoots in for a takedown but Byant shows good takedown defense.
Masters tries to clinch but Byant moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Masters changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Byant tries to avoid it but Masters manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Byant to the ground. Byant escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Masters tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ken Masters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Byant. No joy for Masters on that attempt.
Masters is breathing heavily.
Byant slips under a jab.
Masters misses with a few strikes there.
Masters closes the distance and clinches up with Byant, looking for a takedown. Masters pushes Byant against the cage but Byant circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Byant avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Masters moves in looking to clinch but Byant pushes him off.
Byant stuffs the takedown.
Byant swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masters looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Byant is fending him off so far but Masters persists. Nope, Byant circles away and we're back to standing.
Byant throws a leg kick
and Masters counters with an inside leg kick.
Byant stuffs the takedown.
Masters throws a head kick but Byant moves out of range.
Masters tries to clinch but Byant is having none of it.
Masters fails with a takedown attempt.
Byant looks to land a combination but Masters avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Byant misses with a two punch combination.
Masters scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Byant missing with a left hand there. Masters was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Byant keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Masters changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Byant tries to avoid it but Masters manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Byant to the ground. Byant escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Masters fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Byant swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Masters counters with a good low kick that Byant was not able to check.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Masters tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byant swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Masters shoots in looking for a takedown. Byant tries to sprawl out of it but Masters keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Byant manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Byant.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Byant dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Byant's cut.
That's time! Masters's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Byant throws a head kick that misses.
Masters tries for a takedown but Byant circles away easily

and Byant counters with a shoot takedown. Masters fights it but they end up in guard.

Byant is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Masters is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Masters has escaped and now he's on top!
Masters trying to stand up but can't free himself from Byant's guard.
Masters stopping the sweep attempt from Byant.

Byant looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Masters has picked Byant up and slammed him! Byant can't keep hold of the triangle and Masters manages to pass to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masters wants to stand but Byant is controlling his arm.
Masters wants to control but Byant is keeping him busy.
Byant is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Byant sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Masters wants to take a breather but Byant is having none of it.
Byant tries to get to full guard but Masters has control of the leg.
Byant works his way to full guard. Good work.
Masters trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Masters wants to control from the top but Byant keeps moving.

Byant looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Masters passes into side control.
Byant is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Masters takes a little break here. Byant wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Masters tries to stand but Byant is controlling his head.
Masters working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Byant is looking for a sweep.
Byant is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Masters tries to advance to mount but can't.
Masters wants to control but Byant is keeping him busy.
Byant tries to improve position but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Masters misses with a takedown attempt

and Byant counters with a shoot takedown. Masters fights it but they end up in guard.
Byant stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Masters swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Byant slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Byant is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Masters is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Byant swings around for an armbar but Masters sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Byant's guard.

Byant has his foot on Masters's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Masters works his way back into a safe position though.

Byant looking for a guillotine here but Masters defends easily.
Byant keeping moving, preventing Masters from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Byant is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Byant manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Byant gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masters tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byant swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Masters looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Byant takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Masters tries to clinch there but Byant circles away.
Masters tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byant swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Masters gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Byant counters with a nice double leg into side control. Masters won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ken Masters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Byant stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Byant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Byant's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Byant takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Masters gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Byant counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Byant is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Byant is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Masters defends it well.

Byant seems to be looking for submissions.

Byant wants to work for an arm triangle but Masters is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Byant is working for a kimura but Masters is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Byant is working for a kimura but Masters is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Byant looking for a submission but Masters manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Byant stands and throws Masters's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Masters regains half guard.

Byant is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Masters is just riding it out for now. Byant eventually gives up the hold.
Masters moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Byant avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Byant stands and steps away. Masters gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Masters misses with a takedown attempt

and Byant counters with a shoot takedown. Masters fights it but they end up in guard.
Byant wants to pass the guard but Masters is keeping the position.

Byant drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Byant as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Masters screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Byant! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). James Byant!